These records date from 1985 after the filing of the first request for a special exception by Beacon Hills Farm Associates
and continue until 1995 with the announcement that marketing would begin on the Beacon Hill property under the plan of development
which had been approved by the Loudoun County Planning Commission in 1992, a proposal approved by the Catoctin Mountain Alliance.
On 27 June 1979 Beacon Hill, an estate composed of approximately 2,083 acres owned by Arthur (1903-1983) and Mary (1913-1997)
Godfrey, was sold to Saudi Prince Talal bin Abdul Aziz (1935-) for just over five million dollars. Godfrey was a nationally
known radio personality in the 1950's who sometimes broadcast from his farm. The prince made extensive changes and additions
to the property, spending approximately 18 million dollars on these projects
On 16 November 1985 Beacon Hill was bought by a partnership called Beacon Hill Farm Associates (BHFA), later changed to Beacon
Hill Farm Associates II, Limited Partnership. In September 1985, based on a conditional contract for the property BHFA applied
to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a special exception to begin development of this property. This action began a ten year
long process of filings for various levels of development. Neighbors of Beacon Hill organized Beacon Hill Neighborhood Association
which closely monitored each step and fought the plans before the Loudoun County Planning Commission, with the Planning and
Zoning Departments of the County, and in court. B. Powell Harrison (25 Aug 1911-1 Nov 2000), was president of this association,
and lawsuits were filed by him and his wife, Agnes Harrison. The name of the organization changed to Catoctin Mountain Alliance
in 1987, but the focus remained the same: to fight the high density development of the targeted property. During the course
of this fight Loudoun County Board of Supervisors passed the Mountainside Development Overlay District to regulate development
on the mountainsides in Loudoun County; this law covered the Beacon Hill property.
The struggle between Beacon Hill Farm Associates II, Limited Partnership and Catoctin Mountain Alliance continued until 1992
when Loudoun County government approved plans to allow houses to be built on large tracts, an option which met with approval
of Catoctin Mountain Alliance.
These papers are files compiled by B. Powell Harrison who chaired this organization, originally named the Beacon Hill Neighborhood
Association; in February 1987 the name was briefly changed to TBD Group (To Be Determined); on 1 June 1987 the group voted
to change its name to Catoctin Mountain Alliance. These records date from 1985 after the filing of the first request for
a special exception by Beacon Hills Farm Associates and continue until 1995 with the announcement that marketing would begin
on the Beacon Hill property under the plan of development which had been approved by the Loudoun County Planning Commission
in 1992, a proposal approved by the Catoctin Mountain Alliance. Records include news articles, speeches, letters, memos,
zoning applications, lawsuits, financial records, and Harrison's notes regarding the proposed development of Beacon Hill.
Records reflect order in which documents were arranged in Harrison's files; they are not always in chronological order.
Folder 1: Miscellaneous articles, letters, presentations most of which concern lawsuits regarding Beacon Hill,
January-June 1988
Folder 2: Miscellaneous articles, letters, presentations most of which concern lawsuits regarding Beacon Hill,
July-December 1988
Folder 3: Miscellaneous articles, letters, reports, opinions, and presentations regarding "Episode 6" in which Beacon Hill Farm Associates
II Limited Partnership sought to reverse the decision of the zoning administrator which said that the Mountainside Overlay
District Ordinance applied to the their subdivision applications,
Folder 4: Miscellaneous articles, letters, presentations regarding Beacon Hill. Also in opposition to Village Ordinance being considered
as part of new Comprehensive) Plan,
January 1989-October 1991
Folder 5: Miscellaneous papers from 1989 mainly regarding Beacon Hill Farm Associates II's refiling of lawsuits,
18-May-89
Folder 6: Papers concerning lawsuits of Beacon Hill Farm Associates II and their applications to amend Rural Land Management Plan and
application for subdivision of part of Beacon Hill Farm,
January-April 1990
Folder 7: Letters, articles, presentation regarding Beacon Hill Farm Associates II's application for special exception to allow subdivision
of 1,092 acres of Beacon Hill into 70 building lots. Articles and reports relating Catoctin Mountain Associates' dropping
its opposition to this proposal on conditions affecting road systems and mountain views. Letters and article reporting plans
by Elm Street Development of McLean to begin marketing the approved lots.
1992-1995
Folder 6: Information regarding Loudoun County's Mountainside Overlay Ordinance
Folder 7: Legal study commissioned by Piedmont Environmental Council and Catoctin Mountain Alliance of "Comprehensive Plan and its relation
to the zoning ordinance" prepared by attorneys Robert E. Sevila and Tersh Boasberg; press releases; miscellaneous financial
information
Folder 8: Letters, memos, reports; finances of Catoctin Mountain Alliance,
June 1987-December 1989
Folder 9: Bills, letters, financial records of Catoctin Mountain Alliance,
1990-1995
Folder 1: Studies, letters, memos from Connie Krueger, Secretary of Catoctin Mountain Alliance (CMA), to B. Powell Harrison, President
of CMA,
1989-1990
Folder 2: Studies, memos, public statements regarding development proposed by Beacon Hill Associates II; news articles regarding plans
for other developments,
1987-1989
Folder 3: Updated Beacon Hill Residential Development Traffic Impact Study prepared by Kellerco
Folder 4: Studies and reports of Virginia Department of Transportation and Loudoun County agencies regarding proposed development of
Beacon Hill. Statement of B. Powell Harrison to Board of Supervisors,
14-Dec-89
Folder 5: Statements, memos, reports regarding development of Beacon Hill; outline for Loudoun County, Virginia Zoning Ordinance,
1989-1990
Folder 4: Zoning application, memos, articles, Beacon Hill Site Access Plan prepared by Kellerco,
17-Jul-87
Folder 5: Letters, memos, zoning application, news articles regarding development of Beacon Hill Estate; plan for development of Cheswick
in western Loudoun.